Grapevine plant named &#39;Sugrafortynine&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct grapevine variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ is characterized by a very early harvest date, the production of a medium-large sized, black, narrow elliptic berry and a very large bunch size. The berries of ‘Sugrafortynine’ are moderately firm.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘SUGRAFORTYNINE’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of anew and distinct variety of grapevine, ‘Sugrafortynine’, as hereindescribed and illustrated. The new variety was first selected as breedernumber ‘GR313B’ by Terry A. Bacon in Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in July2012. The variety was originated by controlled hybridization.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ is characterized by a very earlyharvest date, the production of a medium to large sized, black, narrowelliptic berry and a very large bunch size. The berries of‘Sugrafortynine’ are moderately firm.

The seed parent is the varietal selection ‘04035-204-488’ (unpatented)and the pollen parent is ‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434).The parent varieties were first crossed in May 2010. The date of firstsowing was Mar. 2011, and the date of first flowering was May 2012.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ was first asexually propagated inDecember 2012 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif., by Terry A. Bacon usinghardwood cuttings.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ differs from its seed parent‘04035-204-488’ (unpatented) in that the new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’has a larger cluster size at about 650 g compared to 450 g for‘04035-204-488’. The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ also differs from itsseed parent ‘04035-204-488’ in that the new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ hasa larger berry size at 5 g compared to 2 g for ‘04035-204-488’.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ is similar to its pollen parent‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434) in appearance but the newvariety ‘Sugrafortynine’ begins ripening about 18 days earlier, on June28 compared to July 17 for ‘Sugrathirteen’.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a berry color that is similar tothe USDA variety ‘Summer Royal’ (unpatented), but the new variety berryshape is narrow elliptic, compared globose for ‘Summer Royal’. The newvariety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a larger black berry compared to a smallerred berry from ‘Flame Seedless’ (unpatented), and the new variety berryshape is narrow elliptic, compared globose for ‘Flame Seedless’.

The new ‘Sugrafortynine’ variety has been shown to maintain itsdistinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagationsby, for example, cuttings and grafting.

Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics describedherein may occur with changes in any of a variety of factors such asgrowing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management andclimatic variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimensof the foliage and fruit of the present new grape variety‘Sugrafortynine’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surfaces ofthe leaves and exterior and sectional views of the fruit. Thephotographic illustration was taken shortly after the fruit was pickedand the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

Many of the descriptive values in this specification are based on andconform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant GeneticResources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983 and/or 1997,which was developed in collaboration with the Office International de laVigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection ofNew Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to four year old‘Sugrafortynine’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County,Calif. during 2016, and is believed to apply to plants of the varietygrown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Vine:    -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on a four year old plant). Vine            Size: Large. Height: Approximately 2.0 m. Width:            Approximately 2.5 m. Vigor: Vigorous. Density of foliage:            Dense. Productivity: Very productive. Crop load:            Approximately 30 kg per vine after thinning. Own root: Yes.            Training method: Typically spur pruned leaving 2 bud spurs.            Resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to            diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.        -   Trunk.—Shape: Stocky. Diameter: Approximately 7 cm (at 30 cm            above the soil line). Straps: Short. Surface texture: Medium            shaggy. Inner and Outer bark color: Inner bark about Medium            Greyed-Orange 164B and Light Greyed-Green 188D to Medium            Greyed-Green 188A in outer bark.-   Shoots:    -   -   Young shoot.—Form of tip: Half open. Intensity of            anthocyanin coloration of tip: Absent or very weak. Density            of prostrate hairs on tip: Absent or very sparse. Density of            erect hairs on tip: Very sparse. Color: About Medium            Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Woody shoot (observations made in the middle third of            shoot).—Attitude before tying: Semi-drooping to drooping.            Growth of axillary shoots: Medium strong, mainly 17 to            30 cm. Internode length: Long, Approximately 80 mm to 95 mm.            Width at node: Approximately 15 mm. Cross section: Circular.            Surface texture: Striated. Main Color: About Medium            Greyed-Orange 166D. Color of dorsal side of internode: About            Medium Greyed-Orange 166D. Color of ventral side of            internode: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C. Color of dorsal            side of node: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C. Color of            ventral side of node: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C.            Density of erect hairs on nodes: Absent or Very Sparse.            Density of erect hairs on internodes: Absent or Very Sparse.            Density of prostrate hairs on internodes: Absent or Very            Sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on nodes: Absent or Very            Sparse.        -   Tendrils.—Distribution on the shoot at full flowering:            Discontinuous. Thickness: Approximately 4 mm. Color: About            Light Yellow-Green 148D in mid-summer. Form: Bifurcated.            Number of consecutive tendrils: Up to 2. Length of tendril:            Medium, approximately 16.5 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Young leaves.—Color of upper surface of first 4 distal            unfolded leaves: About Medium Yellow-Green 144A. Average            intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal leaves            prior to flowering: Absent. Density of prostrate hairs            between veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf:            Absent or very sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins            at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very            sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on veins at lower surface            of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse. Density            of erect hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th distal            unfolded leaf: Sparse to medium sparse.        -   Mature leaves (Observations made on leaves in the middle            third of shoot).—Average length: Large, approximately 13 cm.            Average width: Large, approximately 15 cm. Shape of blade:            Pentagonal. Number of lobes: Approximately 5. Mature leaf            profile: Undulate. Blistering surface of blade upper            surface: Absent or very weak. Leaf blade tip: In the plane            of the leaf. Undulation of margin: Slight. Thickness:            Average— typical of Vitis vinifera species. Overall shape of            teeth: Mixture of both sides straight and both sides convex.            Length of teeth: Medium, ranging from about 3 mm to 10 mm.            Ratio length/width of teeth: Very small. General shape of            petiole sinus lobes: Wide open. Tooth at petiole sinus:            Absent. Petiole sinus limited by veins: Absent. Shape of            upper lateral sinus lobes: Open. Depth of upper lateral            sinuses: Shallow, approximately 20 mm to 40 mm. Density of            prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of blade:            Absent to very sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins            on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of            prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade:            Absent to very sparse. Density of erect hairs on main veins            on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of            prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of blade:            Absent to very sparse. Autumn coloration of leaves: About            Dark Green 139A becoming Medium Greyed-Red 181C to Dark            Greyed-Red 181A.        -   Upper leaf surface.—Color: About Medium Green 138A. Surface            texture: Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull. Anthocyanin            coloration of main veins: Absent or very sparse.        -   Lower leaf surface.—Color: About Light Green 138C. Surface            texture: Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull. Anthocyanin            coloration of main veins: Absent or very sparse.        -   Petiole.—Length of petiole: Medium, approximately 50 mm to            90 mm, mainly 70 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Length of            petiole compared to middle vein: Slightly shorter, 70 mm for            the petiole compared to 130 mm for the middle vein. Density            of prostrate hairs on petiole: Absent. Density of erect            hairs on petiole: Absent. Color: About Medium Green 138B            becoming Light Greyed-Red 182D as it ages.        -   Buds.—Shape: Conical. Size: Medium, approximately 3 mm            wide×4 mm long. Position: Slightly held out. Bud            fruitfulness: Basal, mostly fruitful, 3^(rd) to 5^(th) bud            position. Time of bud burst: Medium for the area of Wasco,            Calif. Approximately March 13th.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Flower type: Fully developed stamen and fully            developed gynoecium. Position of first flowering node:            Usually 3^(rd) to 4^(th) node of current season growth.            Number of inflorescences per shoot: Approximately 1 to 2            with an average of about 1.5. Time of full bloom: Medium for            the area of Wasco, Calif. Approximately April 30th.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—Ripening period: Very early; maturity begins about            June 27th with mid-maturity about July 2^(nd) in the area of            Wasco, Calif. Use: Fresh market. Storage quality: Good for            at least 5 weeks.        -   Cluster.—Form: Conical, shouldered. Cluster size (peduncle            excluded): Large, uniform. Cluster length (peduncle            excluded): Approximately 19 cm. Cluster width: Approximately            13 cm. Cluster weight: Approximately 650 g. Cluster density:            Medium, loose and full. Number of berries: Approximately            130-150 berries, usually about 140.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 6 mm. Lignification of peduncle: Weak. Color:            Medium Yellow-Green 146C.        -   Berry.—Size: Medium-large, natural size averages 5 g.            Dimensions: Longitudinal axis: Approximately 26 mm.            Horizontal axis: Approximately 19 mm. Uniformity of size:            Uniform. Shape: Narrow elliptic. Cross section: Circular.            Skin color (without bloom): About Black 202A. Flesh color:            Usually about Medium Green 137D. Anthocyanin color of flesh:            Absent or very weak. Bloom (cuticular wax): Medium. Pedicel            length: Approximately 7 mm. Pedicel thickness: Medium,            approximately 1.5 mm. Berry separation from pedicel:            Moderately easy. Seed traces: Berries contain 1 to 3            rudimentary soft seed traces per berry. The seed traces are            about Medium Greyed-White 156B. Berry firmness: Moderately            firm. Flesh Juiciness: Juicy. Flesh texture: Crisp.            Particular flavor: Fruity. Refractometer test: About 19            Brix. Juice pH: About 3.6. Titratable acidity: About 0.49%.            Brix: Acid Ratio: Approximately 38.8.        -   Skin.—Skin thickness: Medium, about 175 μm. Skin texture:            Smooth. Skin reticulation: Absent. Skin tenacity: Tenacious            to flesh. Skin tendency to crack: Low. Skin sensitivity to            sunburn: None or very low.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as hereinillustrated and described.